A Black Sea-based Russian surface action group scrambled to the Eastern Mediterranean —under the guise of drilling in the region — are likely there to provide an air defense bubble to protect Russian fighters striking targets in Syria, according to a Russian press report. Read More →

From the Congressional Research Service March, 5 2014 report, Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues and U.S. Interests.
Russia made uneven progress in democratization during the 1990s, but this limited progress was reversed after Vladimir Putin rose to power in 1999-2000, according to many observers. Read More →

An attack from Chechen terrorists timed to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia is becoming increasingly likely, according to an expert in terrorism in the North Caucasus region of Russia, a Chechen terrorism expert told USNI News. Read More →